Ontario doctors take province to court over fees

TORONTO, June 12 (Reuters) - Ontario doctors, frustratedwith the provincial government's plan to curb their fees as itcuts its deficit, said on Tuesday they would challenge thechanges in court, arguing that the ruling Liberals have notnegotiated in good faith.

The Ontario Medical Association, which represents thedoctors of Canada's most populous province, is applying to theOntario Superior Court of Justice for a review of thegovernment's negotiating tactics and a reversal of fee cuts.

"Here in Canada, everyone is afforded protections under theCharter of Rights and Freedoms. This includes doctors," saidDoug Weir, president of the Ontario Medical Association.

"It's deeply disappointing that the government has devaluedthe role of physicians to the point where we are forced to takesuch a drastic step."

The dispute is the latest hurdle for debt-strappedprovincial governments like Ontario, for whom health care istheir biggest expense by far. The province ea rlier this year cu tmedical fees by a total of C$340 million ($330 million) as partof an effort to balance its budget by 2 017-18.

Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews said last month thatthe fee cuts on dozens of procedures were only 80 percent ofwhat the province needs to meet its fiscal target.

The OMA said the Ontario government rejected several of itsoffers, including one equivalent to a 2.5 percent fee cut tophysicians.

It cited a British Columbia case where the Supreme Court ofCanada struck down a wage freeze, ruling that the right tofreedom of association included the right to bargaincollectively.

Matthews on Tuesday said the government would rather sitdown to negotiate "in a boardroom, not a courtroom" and willdefend its decisions in any court case.

"Unfortunately, the OMA has walked away from the table, theyrefused to return to the table and now they're taking this tocourt for not being at the table," she told reporters. "I cantell you I'm very, very disappointed, I think Ontario patientsare disappointed as well."

In their spring budget, the minority Liberals, who are alsoin negotiation with teachers and other public unionized workers,pledged to rewrite legislation if needed to control publicsector compensation costs, something that account for over halfof Ontario's program spending.